2008 Woodie Awards
LCCC professor has double life raising alpacas
Joe Wilbert
Issue date: 11/21/07 Section: Life
- Page 1 of 1
It is early morning on the seven-acre farm in Vermillion and much is to be done before papers can be graded.
Abundant Blessings Alpaca Farm, partly owned by Lorain County Community College Professor Ellin Andrews, is home to 15 alpacas and four llamas that all have very unique personalities.
The long-necked, big-eyed creatures are naturally curious and usually approach visitors in a welcoming manner, however don't like to be touched. If threatened, they can spit a very foul and disgusting, green substance from their third stomach.
Alpacas have approximately 22 different natural colors with Abundant Blessings' herd displaying colors of white, beige, fawn, gray, brown, and black, unlike some alpaca farms that breed only one color.
"Some farms only breed white alpacas because their fiber can be dyed into any color, but we feel the natural colors are so much more beautiful," Andrews said.
When Andrews isn't teaching her 8 a.m. English course, she can be found at her favorite place on the Vermillion farm changing water and hay, and caring for the cuddly, quiet creatures, usually around 7 a.m.
After the morning care, Andrews spends time grading papers before it's back to the farm for the evening to care.
JoAnn and Mike Bisgrove and Andrews started the Abundant Blessings farm in the fall of 2004 by purchasing seven alpacas from a North Ridgeville farm, and later moved the foundation herd to the Vermillion farm in 2005. Another beautiful female alpaca that goes by the name "Misty" was purchased later. The other seven alpacas were all born on the farm.
When Andrews is at LCCC molding minds, the Bisgrove family takes care of the farm duties and needs of the alpacas and llamas.
There are two types of alpacas: Huacaya and Suri. The big difference between the two is that Suris have hair that is much like dreadlocks, and Huacaya hair is fine and crimpy. Abundant Blessings only own and breed Huacaya alpacas.
Alpacas are shorn once a year in spring for their highly valuable fiber that is then processed into yarn later to be made into garments and products.
One alpaca named Joltin' Joe DiMaggio, after the famous Simon and Garfunkel song "Mrs. Robinson," was entered into a judges clinic contest with only the intentions of feedback.
He normally would have been disqualified because of his dark blue eyes, an unwanted trait for alpacas, but won the hearts of all 10 judges, putting "Joey" in first place. Andrews is even thinking about writing a children's book about "Joey".
Abundant Farms typically enters three to four contests a year. Most of the alpacas have won many ribbons already and show a lot of promise.
Abundant Blessings Alpaca Farm, partly owned by Lorain County Community College Professor Ellin Andrews, is home to 15 alpacas and four llamas that all have very unique personalities.
The long-necked, big-eyed creatures are naturally curious and usually approach visitors in a welcoming manner, however don't like to be touched. If threatened, they can spit a very foul and disgusting, green substance from their third stomach.
Alpacas have approximately 22 different natural colors with Abundant Blessings' herd displaying colors of white, beige, fawn, gray, brown, and black, unlike some alpaca farms that breed only one color.
"Some farms only breed white alpacas because their fiber can be dyed into any color, but we feel the natural colors are so much more beautiful," Andrews said.
When Andrews isn't teaching her 8 a.m. English course, she can be found at her favorite place on the Vermillion farm changing water and hay, and caring for the cuddly, quiet creatures, usually around 7 a.m.
After the morning care, Andrews spends time grading papers before it's back to the farm for the evening to care.
JoAnn and Mike Bisgrove and Andrews started the Abundant Blessings farm in the fall of 2004 by purchasing seven alpacas from a North Ridgeville farm, and later moved the foundation herd to the Vermillion farm in 2005. Another beautiful female alpaca that goes by the name "Misty" was purchased later. The other seven alpacas were all born on the farm.
When Andrews is at LCCC molding minds, the Bisgrove family takes care of the farm duties and needs of the alpacas and llamas.
There are two types of alpacas: Huacaya and Suri. The big difference between the two is that Suris have hair that is much like dreadlocks, and Huacaya hair is fine and crimpy. Abundant Blessings only own and breed Huacaya alpacas.
Alpacas are shorn once a year in spring for their highly valuable fiber that is then processed into yarn later to be made into garments and products.
One alpaca named Joltin' Joe DiMaggio, after the famous Simon and Garfunkel song "Mrs. Robinson," was entered into a judges clinic contest with only the intentions of feedback.
He normally would have been disqualified because of his dark blue eyes, an unwanted trait for alpacas, but won the hearts of all 10 judges, putting "Joey" in first place. Andrews is even thinking about writing a children's book about "Joey".
Abundant Farms typically enters three to four contests a year. Most of the alpacas have won many ribbons already and show a lot of promise.
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